HomeMy WebLinkAbout7 Coalbed Methane for Remote VillagesCOALBED METHANE FOR REMOTE VILLAGESCOALBED METHANE FOR REMOTE VILLAGESSeptember 2002September 2002Jim CloughJim Clough, Jim AlbrightJim Albright, Charles BarkerCharles Barker,Bob FiskBob Fisk, , Rick MillerRick Miller, andandDavid David OgbeOgbeAlaska Div. of Geological & Geophysical SurveysAlaska Div. of Geological & Geophysical SurveysLos Alamos National LaboratoryLos Alamos National LaboratoryU.S. Geological SurveyU.S. Geological SurveyU.S. Bureau of Land ManagementU.S. Bureau of Land Management--AlaskaAlaskaKansas Geological SurveyKansas Geological SurveyUniversity of Alaska FairbanksUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks
Coalbed MethaneCoalbed Methane1.1.What is CBM?What is CBM?2.2.How do we measure CBM?How do we measure CBM?3.3.How much CBM in Alaska?How much CBM in Alaska?4.4.Where is the CBM in rural Alaska?Where is the CBM in rural Alaska?5.5.How is CBM produced?How is CBM produced?6.6.Can CBM replace diesel/heating fuel?Can CBM replace diesel/heating fuel?7.7.How can we reduce Exploration toHow can we reduce Exploration toProduction costs?Production costs?
1. What is CBM?1. What is CBM?••Prior to 1980Prior to 1980’’s CBM was a mining hazards CBM was a mining hazard••Coal is both Coal is both sourcesourceand and reservoirreservoirrockrock••Coal is a Coal is a microporousmicroporoussolidsolidwith anwith anenormous internal surface areaenormous internal surface area••Requires Requires fracturesfractures(cleats) for permeability(cleats) for permeability••Capable ofCapable ofsorbingsorbinglarge quantities of gas:large quantities of gas:> 600 cubic feet per ton > 600 cubic feet per ton
COALBED METHANECOALBED METHANE√√Burial diagenesis producesBurial diagenesis produces--BiogenicBiogenicgasgas--up to 194up to 194ººF F (90(90ººC)C)ThermogenicThermogenicgasgas--from 194from 194ººF to 511F to 511ºº(90(90ºº--266 266 ººC)C)Vitrinite reflectance (Ro) 0.4 to 5.0Vitrinite reflectance (Ro) 0.4 to 5.0Optimum Ro 0.4Optimum Ro 0.4--1.61.6√√Without cleats, coalWithout cleats, coalis porous but NOTis porous but NOTpermeable!permeable!
Critical FactorsCritical Factors√√Net coal thicknessNet coal thickness√√Coal rank: Coal rank: lowlowcoal rankcoal ranksuggestssuggestsbiogenicbiogenicgas; gas; very high coal rankvery high coal rankindicates little CBM potentialindicates little CBM potential√√Gas contentGas content√√Permeability: low and very high are detrimentalPermeability: low and very high are detrimental√√Hydrodynamics: must have water productionHydrodynamics: must have water production√√Depth of target bed(s)Depth of target bed(s)
GOODThermogenic gaswindowBAD
2. How do we measure CBM?2. How do we measure CBM?Wasilla1994 DNR Coalbed Methane Drilling Program1994 DNR Coalbed Methane Drilling Program
Gas Content (scf/ton, DAF)50100150200250300Depth (feet)0200400600800100012001400Bituminous coalBituminous coalCore DataCore DataAKAK--94 Desorption Data94 Desorption DataKey Results:Key Results:••40 net feet of coal40 net feet of coal••< 1300 ft depth< 1300 ft depth••Thermogenic gasThermogenic gas••Averages about Averages about 160 160 ScfScf/ton DAF/ton DAFData from Smith (1995) and AK Div. O&G files
3.3.How much CBM in Alaska?How much CBM in Alaska?••Coal Resources: ~5.5 trillion short Coal Resources: ~5.5 trillion short tons hypothetical (approximately 50 tons hypothetical (approximately 50 % of the lower 48 coal resources)% of the lower 48 coal resources)••Coalbed Methane Resources: 1,037 Coalbed Methane Resources: 1,037 trillion cubic feet estimatedtrillion cubic feet estimated(Barker, 2000)(Barker, 2000)
Western InteriorWestern InteriorCretaceous SeawayCretaceous Seaway230 TCF GIP230 TCF GIPCook InletCook Inlet
4. Where is the CBM in rural Alaska?4. Where is the CBM in rural Alaska?PRIORITYPRIORITYVILLAGE SITESVILLAGE SITESFt. YukonFt. YukonWainwrightWainwrightChignikChignikDonlin Donlin Ck.Ck.Red DogRed DogKing Salmon King Salmon KobukKobukKoyukKoyukKoyukukKoyukukMcGrathMcGrathMekoryukMekoryukNaknekNaknekNightmuteNightmuteNikolaiNikolaiNoatakNoatakNulatoNulatoPoint LayPoint LayRampartRampartSelawikSelawikShungnakShungnakToksookToksookBayBayVenetieVenetieWainwrightWainwrightAlatnaAlatnaAllakaketAllakaketAmblerAmblerAtqasukAtqasukBeaverBeaverBettlesBettlesBirch CkBirch CkChalkyitsikChalkyitsikChignikChignikChignikChignikLgLgChignikChignikLkLkDeeringDeeringEvansvilleEvansvilleFort YukonFort YukonGalenaGalenaKaltagKaltagKiana35 COMMUNITIES35 COMMUNITIESKianaREMOTE MINESREMOTE MINES
seismic linePRIORITY SITE:PRIORITY SITE:Arctic conditions, Arctic conditions, thick coal, thick permafrostthick coal, thick permafrost
22,000 km22,000 km2 2 with up towith up to4.5 km of basin fill4.5 km of basin fillFortFortYukonYukon
The “The “MudbankMudbank””129 Km (80 miles) from Fort Yukon129 Km (80 miles) from Fort Yukonlignitelignite
LL--382 Hercules, 48,000 lb payload382 Hercules, 48,000 lb payloadup to 54 ft long. Costup to 54 ft long. Cost--$32,000$32,000TransportationTransportation--bybyair or river barge onlyair or river barge only
Kansas Geological Survey’s IVI Kansas Geological Survey’s IVI MinivibratorMinivibratorgenerating highgenerating high--resolution (>120 Hz) Presolution (>120 Hz) P--wavewaveRoadside cable layingRoadside cable laying
Seismic lineSeismic line(1296 total (1296 total shotpointsshotpoints, ~8.5 line miles), ~8.5 line miles)Add. seams at depthAdd. seams at depthPermafrostPermafrostand noiseand noise19941994USGS climate USGS climate drill holeLake clayLake claydrill holeSand/silt/claySand/silt/clayCoalCoalData indicateData indicate~40 ~40 scfscf/ton gas /ton gas storage capacity.storage capacity.BasementBasement
Alaska PeninsulaAlaska PeninsulaChignik Chignik BayBay
PRIORITY SITE:PRIORITY SITE:Volcanic arcVolcanic arc--trenchtrenchsetting, m. thick coal, no permafrostsetting, m. thick coal, no permafrostNov. 2002 water well siteNov. 2002 water well site
5. How is CBM produced?5. How is CBM produced?High CBM High CBM producibility producibility model (model (TBEGTBEG))
Schematic of a Coalbed Methane Schematic of a Coalbed Methane Reservoir Cross SectionReservoir Cross SectionPack offPack offcoal seamscoal seamsA Guid to Coabed Methane Reservoir Engineering
CBM Reservoir BehaviorCBM Reservoir BehaviorGas is transported through coal matrix by diffusion Gas is transported through coal matrix by diffusion towards the fracture system.towards the fracture system.Gas desorbsGas desorbsfrom matrixfrom matrixsurface andsurface andenters freeenters freegas stategas statewithin thewithin thefracturefracturesystem.system.
CBM ReservoirCBM ReservoirGas is transportedGas is transportedthrough coal matrixthrough coal matrixby diffusion towardsby diffusion towardsthe fracture system.the fracture system.Water disposal Water disposal by by reinjectionreinjectionor surface or surface dischargedischarge
Stages of Production in CBM WellsStages of Production in CBM WellsTimeProduction RateGasWaterIncreasingGasProductionStable GasProductionDeclining GasProductionDewatering Phase
Gillette, WY CBM wellheadGillette, WY CBM wellheadand water storageand water storage
The FTEThe FTE®®ProcessProcess••Coupling freeze / thaw cycling with Coupling freeze / thaw cycling with conventional evaporative technology allows conventional evaporative technology allows treatment / disposal on a year round basis.treatment / disposal on a year round basis.J. Harju, GTI
6. Can CBM replace diesel/heating fuel?6. Can CBM replace diesel/heating fuel?••MediumMedium--sized community of 700 peoplesized community of 700 peopleuses ~250,000 gallons diesel fuel per year.uses ~250,000 gallons diesel fuel per year.Roughly ½ for electricity and ½ forRoughly ½ for electricity and ½ forhome heating*home heating*••Translates to ~34.5 million cubic feet ofTranslates to ~34.5 million cubic feet ofgas/ yeargas/ year••Barrow gas fieldsBarrow gas fields--218.5 218.5 BcfBcf••N. Cook Inlet gas field 2.3 N. Cook Inlet gas field 2.3 TcfTcf••Beluga gas field 1.3 Beluga gas field 1.3 TcfTcf*Source: Frank Bettine
Reduce hazardsReduce hazardsof liquid fuelof liquid fueltransport andtransport andstorageTypical view before replacing and upgrading tank farms in rural Alaska.storageBarge, aground at MekoryukBay. (photo by DEC)DEC DSPR, Response Summaries
7.7.How can we reduce ExplorationHow can we reduce Explorationand Production costs?and Production costs?Rural Alaska challengesRural Alaska challengesNONOINFRASTRUCTURE !!!INFRASTRUCTURE !!!--NONOpipelines,pipelines,small utilitiessmall utilitiesLOGISTICSLOGISTICS--NONOroads / roads / HIGH $HIGH $costs !!!costs !!!Avg. $1.8 M to drill 2 test holesat each site!!!(UAF 1997 study)SMALL MARKETSSMALL MARKETS--population 20population 20--1,2001,200avg. ~450 andavg. ~450 andlittle to little to NONOindustryindustry
????High Costs!!!High Costs!!!••Production costs unknownProduction costs unknown••Costs with conventional CBM E&D Costs with conventional CBM E&D expected to be very highexpected to be very high••Likely beyond the economic window??Likely beyond the economic window????????
Dewatering method?Dewatering method?••Little to no water quality dataLittle to no water quality data••Water disposal methods in Water disposal methods in permafrost untestedpermafrost untested••Hydrology of most basins unknownHydrology of most basins unknown
SlimSlim--hole Drillinghole Drilling••Annual dieselAnnual diesel--based energy costsbased energy costsexceed $20 millionexceed $20 million••Energy requirements ~30 MW of electricityEnergy requirements ~30 MW of electricity••Translates to ~8.25 Translates to ~8.25 MMcfd MMcfd of gasof gas••GasGas--fired electrical power will benefit localfired electrical power will benefit localvillagesvillages
Red DogRed DogShalebedShalebedGas ProgramGas Program••ShalesShalesare gasare gas--bearingbearing••HelicopterHelicopter--supported supported LongyearLongyearLFLF--70 70 slimslim--hole hole hardhard--rockrockdrill rigsdrill rigs••HQ (4 in. OD) to set surface conductorHQ (4 in. OD) to set surface conductor••NQ 3000 ft with steel, 3500 ft with Combo NQ 3000 ft with steel, 3500 ft with Combo rodrod••DOE support to develop tools and DOE support to develop tools and techniques for obtaining key reservoir techniques for obtaining key reservoir parameters from slimparameters from slim--hole wellshole wells
Red DogRed Dog20012001drillingdrillingprogramprogramLF -70 Drill Rig in Open Pit
Gas reservoir rock Gas reservoir rock Kuna FormationKuna Formation--Ikalukrok Ikalukrok MemberMemberMelangeMelange, typically, typicallyvery gassyvery gassyLaminated black shaleLaminated black shaleGas contentGas contentis ~ 40 is ~ 40 cftcft23,040 acres23,040 acresleased in 2000leased in 2000(160(160--200 200 Bcf Bcf GIP)GIP)
Coiled Tubing Coiled Tubing MicroholeMicroholeLos Alamos National LabLos Alamos National Lab
Approx. 1/3 cost of conventional drillingApprox. 1/3 cost of conventional drilling
KUDOS TO:KUDOS TO:••U.S. Department of EnergyU.S. Department of Energy--NETLNETL••Tim Ryherd and Mark MyersTim Ryherd and Mark Myers--AK Div. Oil & GasAK Div. Oil & Gas••Dan SeamountDan Seamount--Alaska Oil and Gas C. C. Alaska Oil and Gas C. C. ••Kristin DeanKristin Dean--Univ. of Alaska FairbanksUniv. of Alaska Fairbanks••Jerry Booth, Consultant, Jerry Booth, Consultant, Teck ComincoTeck Comincoshallowshallowgas programgas program••Kent Turner, Consultant, Kent Turner, Consultant, Teck ComincoTeck ComincoDrillingDrillingProgramProgram